WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 11 August 1944, Page 8

WESTPORT NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent; WESTPORT, August 10. Mr L. Mockett has been appointed to represent raw milk vendors on tne proposed Milk Council. , , Mr J- Jordan has been elected cmnlovers’ representative on the Westport Technical High School Board, in place of Mr. A. Hunter. Motions of sympathy with the relatives of the late Messrs P. E. Ryan and A MacDonald were passed by the Westport Borough Council at last meeting. . . . ... Advice that the provision of a slot telephone at North Beach, would not be justified, has been received by tne Westport Borough Council, from the Postmaster-General, Hon. P. C. Weob, who stated the proposal had been considered on several occasions. Ihe area was very sparsely populated and the number who yould benefit would be negligible. A public telephone was located at the hospital, not more than 36 chains from Gibson’s Store and was readily accessible to permanent residents of North Beach. The following stock was slaughtered last month at the Borough Abattoirs (figures for last year in parenthesis;: Cattle 171 ( 191); sheep 515 (514); pigs 4 (12); calved 36 (36).- Abattoir fees were £129 15s Id against £36 2s Ila last year. The following inspections were carried out last month by the Sanitarj' and Building Inspector to the Boroug’i Council: Foodsellers’ premises 10. plumbing and drainage 5, habitation* 16, infectious diseases 7, buildings 12. nuisancese 6, interviews and various 30. Twelve building permits were issued during the month of July at an estimated' cost of work at £1,176 10s. Fees collected were £6 15s. Several owners and occupiers of property were requested to clean their sections, this making a decided improvement.

Cr J. Kilkenny, at the Borougn Council meeting stated he was informed that a man whose home had been blown to pieces during a tornado, was unable to get back into the home, allegedly because he had five children, although he was prepared to pay a higher rent. Cr. Mockett said there were two sides to every question, and while their sympathy might be with the complainant, they should first see the owner and ascertain his viewpoint. The Mayor and Cr. Thomas were authorised to interview the owner. “Every meeting night we have to deal with the Ratepayers’ Association. I think these matters should De taken in general business,” said Cr. C. H. Thomas, at a meeting when a request was received from the Westport. Ratepayers’ Association that the Council should make representations to have a broadcasting station established at Westport.. “Any contentious matter should be left to general business,” he said. The Mayor: “This is not contentious.” Cr. Thomas: “Wlhat ? There is bound to be great controversy over this.” The Mayor thought a ‘broadcasting station should Be established here, if only to encourage talent among children. Cr. rairbairn said he did not think there was a chance until after the war. On his motion it was decided that the request Slhould go forward to the proper authorities. Urgent action has been taken to ensure that Westport is treated as a national harbour, according to advice received by the Borough Council from the Minister of Railways, Hon. K. Semple. With this end in view, Mr. Furkett had made an inspection to enable him to report on what was necessary for immediate improvements and for long-range work. Mr Semple stated he was assured that the matter would not be dropped as the coal position was such that Westport must be improved and improved urn mediately. Mr. Semple’s letter statea that regarding Karamea harbour improvements. the Minister of Marine, Hon J. O’Brien, was arranging for a visit'of inspection by an engineer from Westport, and if there were any' possibility of the port being available in the near future, full use would be made of it to obviate the present difficulty of shipping inwards and outwards from Karamea through Little Wanganui harbour. An application from T. Hutt foi the lease of a reserve in Lyndhurst Street at £l' a year rental, was referred oy the Borough Council to its reserves C °Owners of dogs within the Borough who after being issued with two notices’. refused to re-register their dogs are to be prosecuted. This decision was made at a meeting of the Council The dog registrar reported two owners definitely refused to pay the fees. A local fruiterer who refused to pay the 10s fee for his shop, undei tlhe new by-laws, which came into force on April 1, is also to be prosecuted if the fee is not paid immediately